Early Life and Education
Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov was born on September 9, 1953, in Chust, Uzbekistan. He spent his childhood in Tashkent, where his father was a state prosecutor and his mother taught Russian. Usmanov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in 1976 with a degree in international law.
Rise to Success
Usmanov's business career began in the 1980s, where he became a millionaire before the collapse of the Soviet Union. He initially made his fortune in the production of plastic bags, a commodity in high demand at the time. After the Soviet Union's collapse, he made substantial wealth through investments in metal and mining operations. He co-founded Metalloinvest in 1999 to acquire assets in the metal industry. His investments extended to the telecom sector, including co-ownership of MegaFon, a mobile telephone operator.
Key Business Strategies
Usmanov's business strategy included strategic investments in various sectors. He invested in early-stage technology companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Alibaba. He also invested in Metalloinvest, which owns a wide range of Russian metal and mining businesses. Usmanov was also a shareholder of Arsenal Football Club from 2007 to 2018.
Philanthropy
Usmanov is known for his philanthropic activities, donating billions to charity over the years. In 2020, he was named the most generous philanthropist by The Sunday Times Giving List. His charitable fund, Art, Science and Sport Charity Fund, supports various initiatives in art, science, sports, culture, medicine, and social development.